Ramayana: Epic of Ram, Prince of India

About the Author Romesh Dutt (1848-1909) was born in Bengal in pre-independent India. He was a member of the Indian Civil Service and also served in the Bengal Legislative Council. His first literary successes were in his mother tongue, plays, poems, historical novels, and also a Bengali translation of the Rig Veda, which was a subject of much controversy. Apart from his English translations of the two great epics, his other notable works are Economic History of India and India in the Victorian Age.

Introduction One of the oldest literary texts in the country, the Ramayana surprises by its enduring popularity. The saga of Rama has enthralled generations of readers. There is little doubt about its literary merit, which is also one of the important reasons for its survival. What requires a closer look is its profound impact on our emotional lives, cutting across social and intellectual differences.

Like all epics, it centres on the incidents in the life of its eponymous hero, Rama. With its wealth of character and event, there is plenty to hold the readers' attention-the element of fantasy in flying chariots and talking birds and animals, drama in the abduction of Sita and in the king bowing to pressure from Kaikeyi and exiling his beloved son. Above all, the Ramayana is a celebration of emotional ideals. Rama's filial love, Sita's devotion to her husband, Lakshmana allegiance to his brother-these are sentiments which strike a chord in the hearts of most readers. The charm of the ideal is felt more so in the disturbed and increasingly mechanised times we live in.

**Contents and Sample Pages**